The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-22
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 1855.

Reasons Why Mr.. Blaine Is Not an Availa-
BILE Candidate for the Presidency.
Wharton Barker. in The Anne rican.
We propose to ask the Republicans Of the
United States, at this crisis in their party his
tory, a serious question, and to add some reflec-
tions upon the answers that they may make.
What do they mean to do as to their candidate
for President in 1881
The probable answer of many will be that Mr..
Blaine must again be the candidate. No one
will be surprised at such a suggestion Mr..
Blaine came very near being President in 1884
He missed the mark more narrowly than was
ever before known in the history Of such con-.
tests To try again is the not unnatural sug-
gestion of his friends. The signs of their desire
that he should are apparent in many places.
AS in 1883, it is said that he does not desire the
nomination, and will not take it except by
| general unanimity Of the peoples preferences;
and, as then, it is intimated that he distrusts
| his own strength. Nevertheless, it Is plain
| that the men who effected his nomina-
| ton in 1884 are again active in his behalf,
| and are again DESTROYS to take the chances of
| his election. This fact must therefore be ex.
| plicitly recognized and considered The Re-
publican party must ask itself, would another
| nominal of Mr. Blaine be wise! It seems to
clear that the answered. the party, If it should
look coollv at the subject and consider the grave
consequences of mistake will be emphatcally
| in the negative. Every Republican is able to
| Judge for himself whether Mr.. Blaine was not,
| in 1884, like Mr.. Clay in 1914. at the height of
his strength. Is it possible to increase, or even
maintain the enthusiasm of his admirers two
| years ago9 Is it possible to bring to him any
new elements of support? Is there any quarter
| in which he is more popular now than in 1884?
Is the confidence which he inspires in other pnb
| lie men and party leaders greater2 And, finally
| and most decisively, could he carry now. any
| better than in 1884 the State of Indiana the
The party cannot trust to the chapter of acct
| dents; it cannot be sent to clutch at straws of
chances in this or that Southern State-the Vir-
ginias, or North Carolina. or Tennessee-iu order
! to compensate for risks unnecessarily taken in
| the North.
We say frankly, and we know that we are
| speaking for many Republicans when we say that
| it would be most desperate experiment, in view
! of the consequences Of failure. 20 renominate
| Mr.. Blaine He has had his candidacy. He was
| loyalty supported by every element that will
have the right or the opportunity to consider the
second proposal OF his name. That he failed is
not their fault but his misfortune. He cannot
| justly ask them to enter with them again so
| perilous a venture.
| The Republican party is fairly united. Mr.
Blaine and his friends are good party men. They
| will support, the other elements supported
him. Loyalty and heartily any fit and worthy can
! didate whom the national convention may select
| The obvious course of wisdom and of duty is to
| choose one who has against him neither the per-
| sonal enmities the factional opposition nor the
repute of failure presented by Mr.. Blaine.
/ The strength of the party is we'll embodi ed
| and personified in Mr.. Sherman He could do
| better believe, in both Indiana and New
| York than Mr.. Blaine-much better in the
former State since some circumstances attend
ing tho 1884 contest there. Mr.. Sherman is
turned to now by many Republicans. He would
| be. in our judgment, very strong candidate
His long public service has abundantly qualified
him for the presidency. He is such man in
mental stature and force of character tho
United States might justly select for Its chief
| m agstrate
For Mr.. Harrison, of Indiana we believe there
is growing regard. His apparent defeat in his
own state has been real victory. The false.
dealing in the arrangement of the legislative
districts his popularity and energy so nearly
overcame that additional fraud had to be EN-.
ployed in order to stop his complete triumph In
no recent political contest have the qualities
of intrepid and wise leadership been moro dis
played than that of Mr.. Harrison in his own
State. That he did not, in its lates,
pnases' meet his atversaries with their
own weapons and methods by force and fraud
marks him more clearly as an honorable leader
or men, and not nero politician. Mr.. Harr
sons nomination would have many. if not all.
elements of success from the very start. No
Democratic candidate could take the State OF
Indiana from him, ard the knowledge of this fac,
would go far to give him the prestige of success
and win him not only one but both of the doubt
full States in the East. He could rally every rea
friend of MIR. Blaine, and he would not repel any
one OF those who broke away from the party in
1884 who are not already joined with the Dem
ocratic organization. Why, then would not Mr.
Harrison be elected
Other men may be named, no doubt. Genera
Logan is dead, or he would certainly have beer
} the choice of many. It is not that We mean here
to insist on either Mr.. Sherman or Mr. Harri